Shamvura Camp

Rundu - Namibia

Situated on a large forested sand dune and one of the very few high points along the Okavango River, Shamvura Camp offers spectacular views over the river and surrounding flood plains.

The Treetop cottage affords the visitor a birds-eye view of one of the last remnants of natural riverine forest comprising mainly of "Knobthorn Acacia"
(Acacia nigrescens).

The surrounding flood plains comprise of Phragmites mauritianus reeds and patches of papyrus, and are vital breeding areas for almost 90 species of fish and a habitat for over 60 species of wetland birds.

Shamvura Camp has an elevated location, overlooking the Okavango/cuito floodplain and does not flood during the rainy season making it easily accessible all year round.
From here we offer you outstanding freshwater fishing, game-viewing, nature walks, cultural activities, microlight flights and a once-in-a-lifetime birding opportunity.

Malaria is present in the area, and visitors are advised to take the necessary precautions.

Where is Shamvura Camp ?
Shamvura Camp is strategically located ±110km east of Rundu, just off the main B8 tar road to Katima Mulilo.
The location is convenient for easy access to the Kaudom Game Reserve (±65km), the Mahango Game Park
(±100km) and onward via the Mohembo Gate into neighbouring Botswana.

Shamvura Camp offers six different accommodation possibilities.
All units have spacious shaded parking areas and all-weather roads leading to them.

Tree Top Cottage:
Elevated on a raised platform in the forested area giving a splendid view of the forest from its spacious veranda.
It has one large main bedroom with a double bed, ceiling fan and en suite bathroom. In the corner of the
open-plan dining/kitchen/lounge area there is a comfortable studio couch, which makes up two additional beds,
with a bedside lamp and shelf which although not private is quite cosy. There is also space on the veranda for at
least one or two more beds/stretchers. The kitchen is fully equipped with crockery and cutlery for six people and
includes a fridge/freezer and stove. There is also a private enclosed grassed braai area with wood provided.
The cottage is supplied with electricity.

Maroela Tent: (2-bed unit)
The tent is raised on a wooden platform with a large, spacious covered veranda and an excellent view of
the river from behind the forest fringe. It is situated next to a large Maroela tree (hence the name) and has
a large enclosed grassed braai area with firewood provided. There is a large parking and turning area partially
enclosed. No electricity, but battery lamps, fresh drinking water, mozzi nets and mosquito repellents are
provided.

Combretum Tent: (3 - 4 bed unit)
Is on a cement base slightly raised with a covered veranda. The ablution facility is not en suite but close and
there is a braai area. This tent is situated under a very large Combretum colonum tree and has dense shade,
with the whole unit and parking area enclosed with reed and pole fences. This site offers a good view of the
Angolan floodplains. There is no electricity but battery lamps, fresh drinking water, mozzi nets and mosquito
repellents are provided.

Mangetti Tent: (3 - 4 bed unit)
Raised on a wooden platform with a veranda offering a good view of the Angolan floodplains. Shower facilities
en suite. Mangetti has its own grassed and enclosed braai area with a partially enclosed large parking and
turning area for vehicles. No electricity, but battery lamps, fresh drinking water, mozzi nets and mosquito
repellents are provided.

Ushivi Tent: (4-bed unit)
Is near the main complex with a large, very spacious reed enclosed area giving absolute privacy,
but unfortunately no view. A braai area with firewood and outside lighting with fully equipped kitchen, crockery
and cutlery for up to 8 people are available within this enclosed area. A fridge/freezer and stove is provided.
It has ablution facilities within the enclosed area. Ushivi has electricity and a plug point. Fresh drinking water,
mozzi nets and mosquito repellents are provided. This unit also has an adjoining "guides nook" with its own
electrical point.

Camping:
Is available at either Ushivi or Combretum, which have outside ablution facilities. The extensive enclosed parking areas allows for the erection of additional tents etc.
These facilities are only available when the main tents are not occupied and are only offered to guests making use of our additional activities, or groups of more than 4 persons

Special Birdwatching
The diversity of birdlife at and within easy reach of Shamvura is spectacular, and offers the opportunity to view many rare species as well as numerous Namibian endemics or near endemics.

Boat trips can be tailored to suit the avid birder's requirements and many species are seen from the comfort of a cruising boat on the river, with an experienced guide.

Shamvura is a registered ringing station with "A" permit holders on site. Bird ringing/banding entails catching a variety of birds, recording measurements,
placing a numbered ring on the bird's leg and collation of the data to SAFRING at the Department of Mathematics at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Bird ringing/netting excursions can be arranged for resident guests. This allows the avid birder some exciting "hands-on" experience. It also often affords the visitor the opportunity to observe some smaller inconspicuous bird species often missed while hiking.

Shamvura is surrounded by hundreds of hectares of uninhabited flood plains which afford some excellent hiking possibilities. There are no large game species to view, however, there are excellent birding opportunities and the chance to see smaller mammals, insects and reptiles. Being on the Angolan border, small animals, insects and reptile species unknown elsewhere in Namibia, are regularly found.

You can also enjoy a guided trip in a wato (traditional dugout canoe) for a relaxing outing along the river. Or a spectacular aerial view by prearranged microlight flights

A list of some 400 bird species may be ticked off at Shamvura, which includes 21 endemics or near endemics. This list is available in hardcopy at the camp.

The different habitats ranging from Riverine forest, floodplains to Broadleaf
Woodland and Scrubland at Shamvura offer a wide diversity of exciting specials to the avid "ticker". These species include Rufous-bellied Tit, Racket-tailed Roller, Arnots Chat, Grey-headed Parrot, African Skimmer, Rock Pratincole, White-backed Night Heron, Lesser Jacana, Slaty egret, Angolan Swallow, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Yellow Wagtail, Sharp-tailed Starling, Allens Gallenule, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Ayres Hawk Eagle, Bat Hawk and African Hobby.

Some unusual vagrants seen recently include Green Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Terek Sandpiper, River warbler, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone, Curlew and Cardinal Quelea.

Some netting excursions often turn up out-of-habitat birds like Great Redd Warblers and Streaky-breasted Flufftails.

Fishing

The Okavango River is home to over 80 species of fish of which only a select
percentage are considered angling species.

The Okavango River has its origins deep in central Angola and flows basically
eastwards to disappear underground in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. While in Namibia it forms the meandering border with Angola. It has extremely diverse habitat including vast expanses of reed/papyrus flood plains which offer rich breeding grounds for the fish population and the birdlife that feed on them. It is a relatively narrow, fast-flowing river with clear water conditions for most of the year. Although well populated along its Namibian banks the water quality remains surprisingly unpolluted.

The Okavango River is one of the very few rivers worldwide with no exotic or
introduced fish species.

What to catch with predatory tackle?
The prime target angling fish are Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) which occur
throughout the river system.

These energetic, fighting fish will test any angler's tenacity and experience. They are considered the most challenging freshwater fighting fish and have incredibly bony mouths lined with razor-sharp teeth. This, coupled with their habit of jumping out of the water when hooked – dislodging most hooks with head-shaking acrobatics, makes them exceptionally difficult to hook and retrieve.

Our Tigerfish are not as heavy as those from the neighbouring Zambezi River system which have similar lengths but larger bellies. They are notably sleeker and more muscled than their Zambezi counterparts probably because our currents are stronger and require more muscle to endure. A 2kg fish can be considered a worthwhile trophy and anything up to 6-7kg the ultimate.

Nembwe (Serranochromis robustus) are a bream species which occur throughout the main river system. A predatory fish using ambush tactics, it can be lured and hooked with relative ease in the right conditions and give the angler a memorable fight. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of the freshwater angling species, and tasty with a succulent flesh. A 2kg Nembwe in our river is considered excellent.

Three-Spot Tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii) is an algae and vegetation feeding bream species which can sometimes be caught when they go through a predatory phase for some months of the year. They are as tenacious as Tigerfish and give the angler a similar heart-stopping fight. What they lack in colour they make up for in fighting ability. They are also good to eat and very seldom get bigger than 2.5kg in our river system.

Thin-faced Largemouth (Serranochromis angusticeps) and Humpback Largemouth (Serranochromis altus) are two similar predatory bream species which fall to the angler's guile but don't come easily. When hooked they fight like the bulldogs they look like. Not a pretty fish, they are good table fare and often grow to a large 3.5kg in our river system.

Sharp-tooth and Blunt-tooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus & ngamensis) are generally bottom-feeders but are occasionally hooked by anglers with predatory tackle. Typical of most Catfish they rely on their bulk and the angler is guaranteed a long haul especially when hooking into the average 6-10kg fish commonly found on our river.

African Pike (Hepsetus odoe) are not commonly hooked by anglers on our river, although the local people quite commonly net these little predatory fish. When they are caught they present the same challenges as do Tigerfish of similar size.

Greenhead Tilapia (Oreochromis macrochir) and Redbreast Tilapia (Tilapia rendalli) are not generally predatory fish and therefore must be taken using other baits such as earthworms. Both species reach reasonable sizes of 1 – 2 kg in this river and can, therefore, offer a significant fight to the persistant angler.

Purpleface Largemouth (Serranochromis macrocephalus) can also occasionally be hooked using earthworm bait but are the exception rather than the rule in our river.

How and when to catch fish?
Predatory tackle (spinning tackle) seems to be the preferred option of most anglers on this river system. A steel trace to any tackle is essential as Tigerfish will be around anywhere. Crank bait lures and spinners seem to have the most success throughout the year when the water is clear. However, during the rainy season (November through to February) the influx of water from the Angolan catchment area makes the water quite murky. During these times "drift bait" or live bait fishing can produce better results.During this time the water level of the river rises to flow into the surrounding flood plains where the fish feed and the most concentrations of fish are therefore no longer in the main river system. For this reason during this time the fishing is generally not so good as the fish are more dispersed and not easily accessible to the angler. However, when the waters recede out of the flood plains, during March to May, the fishing generally picks up. This is when the predatory fishes start feeding on the newly hatched small fry migrating back into the river from their floodplain breeding grounds.

The best times for most bream species are the colder months of June to August when the river water level is also getting progressively lower. These conditions are highly variable from year to year and are directly influenced by the rainfall periods, amount of rainfall, flooding cycles and climatic conditions in our immediate area as well as in the Angolan catchment regions.

Where to catch fish?
Tigerfish occupy all habitats of this river system being the top apex predator. They can be caught near the banks as well as in the centre of the river. There are, however, preferred places such as above and below rapids, over shallower stretches of rocks and sandbank drop-offs. We seldom have "feeding frenzies" of Tigerfish feeding on shoals of baitfish as happens in the Zambezi system. The medium-sized Tigerfish do, however, tend to move in feeding groups which patrol stretches of the river and when encountered these groups can give the angler some continuous heart-stopping action. Spinning tackle and light rods are preferable. Light line of not more than 15lb on small rods of up to 7ft length is adequate.

Fly-fishing equipment on a #9 fly rod should give the avid fly fisherman a good
chance against our fighting fish. Most predatory bream species tend to prefer the banks of the river where overhanging vegetation and inlets ("garages") offer ambush opportunities. Three Spot Tilapia seem to lurk in lily pad covered backwaters with the Greenhead and Redbreast Tilapia.

Trophy Fish
The general policy is to return all fish to the river. However, if clients want to keep trophy fish we will undertake to preserve and mount the fish through our associated, professional taxidermist service.

Features of Shamvura Camp

Some ideas of what to do at Shamvura Camp